Celtic League: Llanelli 24 Leinster 22 Leinster's chances of snatching second place in the Celtic League disappeared as they handed the Scarlets two tries in the second half of a thriller in Wrexham last night.
The beleaguered Welsh region went into the game on the back of five straight losses and news that inspirational back-rower Scott Quinnell was retiring from the sport.
Leinster held a 19-10 lead at the break, but one loose pass and two missed tackles handed tries to Scarlets backs Aisea Havili and Barry Davies, and Leinster had to be content with a bonus point.
"It was there for the taking, but we tried to play too much rugby in the end," a bitterly disappointed Leinster outhalf David Holwell said after picking up the man-of-the-match award. "At the end of the day, they took their chances."
Scottish referee Andrew Ireland was quick to stamp his influence on the game, penalising Leinster three times in the opening four minutes and the third was enough for the Scarlets to open the scoring. Their forwards found only limited resistance as they drove into the danger zone and a clever midfield move resulted in talented centre Matthew Watkins going over untouched.
Holwell registered his side's first points with a penalty goal, despite slipping as he kicked it, and made it a one-point game with his second.
Holwell's third goal on the 20-minute mark gave his side the lead, and with the referee's patience evaporating the New Zealander slotted a fourth goal and Scarlets back-rower Gavin Thomas found himself in the sin-bin for a professional foul.
Leinster took advantage and drove prop Ricky Nebbett over the line for their first try. Holwell's superb goal-kicking continued with a wide-angled conversion and a 0-7 deficit had turned into a 19-7 lead.
Nebbett's propping partner John Lyne was the next player to earn the wrath of Ireland, and he trudged off to join Thomas in the bin as Scarlets outhalf Gareth Bowen kicked the penalty. He had a second chance to close the gap but the ball cannoned off the right-hand upright and Leinster took a 19-10 lead into the break.
Whatever under-fire Scarlets coach Gareth Jenkins said at half-time had the desired effect and the first 10 minutes of the second half belonged to the Welsh side. The problem was - as it has been all season - they hadn't added to their total when Holwell cleared the ball.
Ironically, after soaking up all the pressure, Leinster lost the ball in midfield and gave Havili, one of the fastest men in the game, a free 50-metre run to the line. Bowen's conversion narrowed the margin to two points.
Holwell watched as a 51-metre attempt bounced back off the crossbar, and hooker David Blaney was held up over the try-line, but Leinster didn't leave the home side's territory empty-handed when Holwell made it 22-17 with a fifth penalty goal from point-blank range.
Scarlets full back Barry Davies brought his side back into it with a great run through a tired Leinster defence, and followed it up in the next phase up by being on the end of the line to score in the corner. Bowen ignored the wide angle to kick a terrific conversion and the Scarlets had a two-point lead they held until the final whistle.
SCARLETS: B Davies; G Evans, M Watkins, M Taylor, A Havili; G Bowen, M Phillips; P John, M Rees (A Gravelle 80), J Davies, V Cooper (capt), A Jones, J Mills, G Thomas, D Hodges (A Powell 52).
LEINSTER: D Hewitt; J McWeeney, K Lewis, C Warner, J Norton; D Holwell, B O'Meara; J Lyne (E Byrne 48), D Blaney, R Nebbett, L Cullen (capt), B Gissing, A McCullen (E Byrne 35-40), S Jennings (N Ronan 63), D Dillon.
Yellow cards: Gavin Thomas (Scarlets), John Lyne (Leinster).
Referee: Andrew Ireland (Scotland).
